The Rays acquired Myers, an outfielder with tremendous power potential and upside, along with three other prospects from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Myers did not have to report until Saturday and begin workouts until Sunday, but arrived three days early to get acclimated to his second major league spring training camp.

“This is my first time working out in front of these guys,” Myers said. “Right now, I just want to go out and prove what I can do.”

So too do the Rays.

A number of front office people, including Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman, who engineered the deal, were on hand to see Myers take some swings on Field 5 at the Charlotte Sports Park complex.

“I didn’t really notice it too much,” Myers said. “I didn’t want to take it as added pressure or anything. I just wanted to go out and get my work in.”

Still, Myers admitted he had some “nerves” before stepping into the cage to face instructor Skeeter Barnes, who was throwing batting practice.

“I just wanted to take a couple of good swings to relax a little bit,” Myers said. “But I think it went well.”

He impressed infielder Sean Rodriguez.

“Oh, man. That’s some pop right there,” Rodriguez said. “He was driving the ball the other way off the center field wall. That’s nice to see right there. He hasn’t played in the big league’s yet, but I could see where Andrew and their excitement was when they picked him up. I could definitely see that.”

Joe Maddon did not see Myers, as his duties were with the pitchers and catchers until Sunday’s first full camp workout.

But the manager looks forward to getting an up-close­-and-personal view.

“Just watching him and how he reacts to everything,” Maddon said. “How he interacts with the players. What is he thinking? Is he able to handle this right now. I’m so much into that.”

With Myers comes the question, when will he make his major league debut.

At Double A NW Arkansas and Triple A Omama last season in the Royals’ organization, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter pounded 37 home runs and knocked in 109 runs with a .314 average.

Myers seems like natural to fill some of the power by the departed outfielder B.J. Upton and first baseman Carlos Pena.

But not so fast, says Maddon.

“It’s easier for a young player with that kind of expectation level if he gets some time under his belt on the minor league level, get it rolling, get the feel going, then walk into a big league situation,” Maddon said. “It’s not as difficult as leaving this camp with all this expectation and hype and matchup to that on a major league level right out of the chute.

“I’m not saying he can’t do that. It has been done. But my experiences I like and it has been my experiences to come up under the other circumstances.”

Maddon points to Mike Trout with the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper with Washington, who both started in the minors before coming up to win A.L. and N.L. Rookie of the Year, respectively.

Also, Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria opened his rookie season in the minors in 2008. He came up on April 11 and won A.L. Rookie of the Year by hitting 27 homers, knocking in 85 and batting .272.

“As a player, I feel I’m major league ready, but that’s not up to me to decide,” Myers said. “That’s up to the front office.

“It’s a pretty common question. Obviously, I don’t know the answer.”

Last modified: February 16, 2013
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